Poll: Watchmen, will it be a Superman Returns, or a Dark Knight?

[Double-O]

Dragonball Z potential abominations aside, its been confirmed that, at least for the time-being, Watchmen won't be delayed, unless Fox and Warner start to bicker again. This thread just wants to find out who is for the movie, or who is against. If you have read the graphic novel (I, personally, have not but plan to soon), give some of your views if you are totally against the project, like the author himself has so clearly stated.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I bet it'll be more like "Superman Returns" for a few reasons.

a) Zak Snyders annoying penchant for slow motion is ill suited to Watchmen
b) His focus on exact wink/nod comic pannel translations are corny
c) It's only a 2 hour and 30 minute move, not enough time to really convey the story of Watchmen properly.
d) It's got a pretty b-list cast.
e) A february release does not show studio confidence in the film.
f) Watchmen is pretty much unfilmable.

 

[Simriel]

IT lack giant squid, but thats okay. Change anything else, and your in failsville

 

[Dilla]

I bet it'll be more like "Superman Returns" for a few reasons.

a) Zak Snyders annoying penchant for slow motion is ill suited to Watchmen
b) His focus on exact wink/nod comic pannel translations are corny
c) It's only a 2 hour and 30 minute move, not enough time to really convey the story of Watchmen properly.
d) It's got a pretty b-list cast.
e) A february release does not show studio confidence in the film.
f) Watchmen is pretty much unfilmable.

The more and more I see your posts, the more I think you talk sense!

This post is the most valid argument you'll get for any 'against' reasons. I fully agree.

 

[Trivun]

I bet it'll be more like "Superman Returns" for a few reasons.

a) Zak Snyders annoying penchant for slow motion is ill suited to Watchmen
b) His focus on exact wink/nod comic pannel translations are corny
c) It's only a 2 hour and 30 minute move, not enough time to really convey the story of Watchmen properly.
d) It's got a pretty b-list cast.
e) A february release does not show studio confidence in the film.
f) Watchmen is pretty much unfilmable.

(a) Different films require different methods of film-making and someone like Zak Snyder will no doubt realise that. Otherwise, if he doesn't then perhaps you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(b) I suppose I can't argue there...
(c) Plenty of other things have been condensed that much. If there isn't enough time then it sets it up for a sequel, which may or may not be a good thing, and if there is then you'll be happy.
(d) Films don't need an A-List cast to be good, B-listers are often just as good actors (at least, in films that I've seen).
(e) Time constraints and delays may have forced this, or maybe it will turn out to merely not be as good as various Christmas releases. However, this doesn't make it a bad film on it's own.
(f) All I'm saying with the above is give it a chance. If it's unfilmable then it'll flop, simple as that. However, I personally am looking forward to it and although I haven't read the graphic novel I do plan on doing so soon.

 

[Littaly]

I really don't know, it looks good to me, but somehow I get the feeling every forum on the Internet is gonna spend the rest of the year giving it bad reviews.

 

[electric discordian]

I would personally say it's going to be a "V" for Vendetta, I liked the graphic novel it's absolutely English in it's subject matter and yet the film managed to do a reasonable translation despite changing certain things it kept the heart of the story for the most part.

I remember my heart sinking when I saw "V" was being made by the team that did the Matrix as that series was entirely destroyed in the second part and the third part to my mind actually erased the memory of the first which I regarded for a while as my favorite film!


And still Alan Moore grumbled about it, all of Alan Moores stuff is unfilmable he makes it that way, unfortunately for him he didnt account for Hollywood seeking darker and more depressing subject matter.

It honestly doesn't matter what anyone thinks its been made now it's about to be released and it will be for the most part many peoples only exposure to the Watchmen, so in that it is to be slightly lauded for introducing the usual Cinema going Cattle to a slightly more cerebral subject matter.

 

[Mumpadump]

I think that it will be an visually pleasing movie. The presentation looks amazing so far, but I do not believe that it will be a fantastic movie.

 

[Spacelord]

IT lack giant squid, but thats okay. Change anything else, and your in failsville

But the giant squid's pretty crucial though. They'll pretty much HAVE to change everything else, or at least a lot of it.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Based on the trailer I predict Batman & Robin part 2.

I also predict a happy ending, the bad guy getting caught, Mr Mask surviving and the world getting saved in the manner the heroes intended. It's being made in Hollywood, Hollywood doesn't do dark, they just put a filter on the lense...

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

It's unfilmable. Moore was one of the few comic book writers that actively tried to make his comics not just be story boards or "pictures that do not move" as he called it. The pacing of the conversations, the interludes, and even the character's expressions are meant for a comic book.

The movie will, at best, not suck. That's hardly worth praising.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I bet it'll be more like "Superman Returns" for a few reasons.

a) Zak Snyders annoying penchant for slow motion is ill suited to Watchmen
b) His focus on exact wink/nod comic pannel translations are corny
c) It's only a 2 hour and 30 minute move, not enough time to really convey the story of Watchmen properly.
d) It's got a pretty b-list cast.
e) A february release does not show studio confidence in the film.
f) Watchmen is pretty much unfilmable.

(a) Different films require different methods of film-making and someone like Zak Snyder will no doubt realise that. Otherwise, if he doesn't then perhaps you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(b) I suppose I can't argue there...
(c) Plenty of other things have been condensed that much. If there isn't enough time then it sets it up for a sequel, which may or may not be a good thing, and if there is then you'll be happy.
(d) Films don't need an A-List cast to be good, B-listers are often just as good actors (at least, in films that I've seen).
(e) Time constraints and delays may have forced this, or maybe it will turn out to merely not be as good as various Christmas releases. However, this doesn't make it a bad film on it's own.
(f) All I'm saying with the above is give it a chance. If it's unfilmable then it'll flop, simple as that. However, I personally am looking forward to it and although I haven't read the graphic novel I do plan on doing so soon.

I will admit that the 2hr 30 min run time is not Zak Snyder's fault and the full version will be available on DVD, according to news anyway.

Still, I don't think Snyder can do the story justice. I'm glad he had the gumption to make it, I'm glad he's willing to make it a period piece and I'm glad he has a great deal of passion for the project. But I don't think all the good intentions in the world can do the story of Watchmen justice.

There are other reasons for this as well, Watchmen doesn't have the pertinant immediacy and innovative angle that it had 20 years ago when it was first released. Super Hero's have already been deconstructed, in comics and on film, for awhile now. Hell "The Incredibles" already did an excellent take on the whole "Keane Act" idea and "The Dark Knight" did a great film deconstruction of what it takes to be a "super hero".

Similarly Alan Moores obsession with Sexual Hangups won't really be conveyed well on film... this may be a positive, it certainly was in V for Vendetta... but who knows.

I am being a little hard on B-Listers, but look at Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, as a-list as a-list gets, and it shows, look at Superman Returns, b-listers, an unknown, and Kevin Spacey. Willingness to shell out for Top Talent ala Dark Knight or Sin City shows that you are willing to do whatever it takes to make this movie happen, and to make it happen right. It doesn't look like Watchmen really has the full commitment of the studio behind it, and I believe this will come across in the film rather strongly.

The February release date is a gap season move, there are no other good movies so Watchmen is a garanteed success, it might not be a "mega hit" but it will make money, it's a studio tactic for a film that they believe HAS an audience, but that can't compete against the big boys in the Christmas or Summer season.

Lastly I doubt this movie will be a "V for Vendetta" since Zak Snyder appears to be more interested in his little "comic panel" shots than actually making a solid film that works as a film. What saved V was the fact that it almost threw out the story of the graphic novel in favor of a more filmable one with the same elements and the same ideas.

EDIT: Also, who the fuck picked Snyder, sure 300 was good, but 300 and Watchmen are miles apart. Sorry, I just really hate Zak Snyder.

 

[Spacelord]

The movie will, at best, not suck. That's hardly worth praising.

You and I both know we're going to watch it regardless.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

I would personally say it's going to be a "V" for Vendetta, I liked the graphic novel it's absolutely English in it's subject matter and yet the film managed to do a reasonable translation despite changing certain things it kept the heart of the story for the most part.

Yeah, I'm thinking you're right. It's not gonna be as awesome as it should be, but enough aweomeness should filter down from the source material to make it worth a watch at the very least.
I've seen a few snippets of the making of and it's given me hope, they've stayed surprisingly close to the comic, a lot closer than I thought they would.

Can we have another option, maybe more of a middle ground option, like "It'll be good but not the best"

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

The movie will, at best, not suck. That's hardly worth praising.

You and I both know we're going to watch it regardless.

S*** man, I sat through Max Payne.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

The movie will, at best, not suck. That's hardly worth praising.

You and I both know we're going to watch it regardless.

S*** man, I sat through Max Payne.

You sir, are a braver man than I.

 

[Spacelord]

The movie will, at best, not suck. That's hardly worth praising.

You and I both know we're going to watch it regardless.

S*** man, I sat through Max Payne.

That's nothing man, I own an Alone in the Dark DVD.

(I wanted to know if Uwe Boll really was that terrible. Turns out they were understating.)

 

[Abedeus]

Hey, it has a human wang in it. A BLUE COSMIC WANG!

I'd say it'll be between V for Vendetta and The Dark Knight. Not perfect, but still very good.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"Watchmen" will be a good film imho.

It won't be the book, but it might get some people into the book. And that will be worth it.

Best way to annoy the exec's is to see it in droves.